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MPG issue for R6

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motorcycle-dynotuning

While traveling into Tacoma to visit Brian (FS2) I noticed that even though I have a 4+ gallon tank, I was unable to return without filling up again on my return trip home. I was only getting to about 90 miles before my fuel light came on and this happened both times, even when I made sure to top off before my trip with the cans I had in the garage. I sent Nels Byersdorf (2 Wheel DynoWorks) a text to mention my concern and he replied, “I can fix that.” On Valentine’s day (how appropriate for my labor of love), I took my R6 in for what I thought would be a run and a tweak on the Dyno. Of course, I should have known that it couldn’t be that easy…my bike had come from California and had a air injection system that was throwing off our air/fuel signal, as well as the aftermarket sprocket and gearing which also messes with the odometer and MPG (but that is getting way too technical). The air injection system causing all that trouble was removed and blocked off with block off plates to lean out the fuel mixture so we could get a more accurate sample and finalize the dynotune for fuel economy and performance. The air filter was also dirty and we had to place an order for that to really make the new modification worth while (to be installed soon). After uninstalling the air injection system and installing the block off plates, the power commander was reprogrammed and Nels removed 25% fuel from light throttle and deceleration. This change will increase the throttle transition smoothness, deceleration and braking, and will make the bike run more efficiently (power to rear tire).

The video is an explanation of what was done to the bike to help with the fuel economy issue (which was around 25 mpg when I brought it in). Nels Byersdorf is the owner of 2 Wheel DynoWorks in Woodinville, WA. You may recognize his name since he does offer free Dynos at dealerships from time to time and if you choose to go, go early as it does get crazy. Nels does offer other services including customizing all types of bikes, helping racers get their bikes race ready and offering maintenance events with setups offered by FS2 at his shop. Visit his website at www.2wheeldynoworks.com. If there is something you are concerned about or want modified on your bike, give him a call at 425-269-5332 or email him at 2wheeldynoworks@gmail.com. Enjoy the video!

Counter Steering

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We’ve gone over throttle control and how important it is in riding, so now let’s talk about steering. You can tell a lot by watching a rider steer, how experienced and comfortable he/she is. Counter steering is confusing to most people and it is also one of the reasons that they ask you if you have ever ridden a bicycle before in signing up for the MSF BRC (Beginning Rider Course) class. If you have ever ridden a bicycle you know it isn’t like piloting anything else, in order to go right you have to apply some pressure to the handlebars to the left, to go right, same applies to a motorcycle. We tend not to think about it on a bicycle, yet when we climb onto a motorcycle all of a sudden we overthink the concept to death, it is fear that causes us to freeze up. So let’s just break this down, in a 4-wheeled vehicle if you want to turn right you turn that wheel right and if you want to go left, you turn the wheel left. On a two wheeled vehicle, the same does not apply, in order to go right you need to apply pressure on the bars to the left in order to initiate the turn and in order to go left you need to apply pressure on the bars to the right. This was best explained in Keith Code’s book, Twist of the Wrist II, chapter 12 where he explains counter steering as two magic words. Counter: In an opposing manner or direction and Steering: To guide. It means simply to guide in an opposing manner. “You have the bars in your hands and you’re going straight, but you would like the bike to turn, let’s say, to the right. “To guide in an opposing manner,” you then apply some pressure, at the handlebars, to the left. The bike goes right.” The two wheels on a motorcycle produce a gyroscopic effect, as long as you don’t disturb it, it’s completely stable, but when you try to change the direction on a gyroscope it becomes unstable, which is what you do when you steer. To complicate matters, the faster you go, the more difficult it is to turn because of the gyro effect created by the wheels. The center of mass on your bike also determines how quickly and easily it will steer. The closer the front tire is to the center of mass (determined by the forks), the faster you will be able to steer your bike, like a sport bike, it is very agile and flickable. Now let’s look at the cruiser, where the front forks are extended out more and the front tire is further away from the center of mass, it is not designed to turn on a dime. Steering and throttle control can be a trigger for fear, knowing that everything is stable in a straight line, but the minute we need to turn (steer) that will produce an instability (and in our mind, that is bad). The truth is we need that instability, that moment, in which to change the direction of the bike and then regain that stability by applying the gas back on to provide that force to work in our favor again. As I’ve stated before, your bike wants to be stable and will find a way to return to stability unless the rider does something to stop it, it is about too much rider input. Think less is more (relaxed arms and hands) and you and your bike will have a much better understanding and relationship, getting the optimal response from the bike and more enjoyment from the experience.

Street Riding vs. Track Riding

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I’ve been told it is irresponsible to be a motorcycle rider on more than one occasion and my reply is the same every time, “What an ignorant statement!” Most of the time, their comment is based on the fact they don’t ride, are intimidated with riding (even though they secretly wish they could) and/or know someone who has been injured from a motorcycle accident. This usually leads into a debate in which I have a rebuttal for each of their reasons why I shouldn’t, but typically what I find out is fear is the driving force for their comment. Riding a motorcycle to me is like art in motion, but it is also a practice in restraint, when you turn over that engine it is almost daring you to test it’s limits. Egos come into play and I’ve watched many men turn it into a dangerous competition on the streets just to one up each other and it almost never ends well. Sadly, it is always the “big talkers” that cause these problems, the ones that talk about themselves as if they were AMA champion racers themselves. I prefer to ride as far away from these guys as possible because typically they are just that, all talk. Whether you are on the track or on the street you will encounter at least one of these in every group, don’t become buddies with them, don’t try to educate them, stay as far away as you can from them, they are trouble and can end up not just hurting themselves during the course of the day, but you as well. You can’t save everyone, I concentrate on helping people who really want to learn, not just show off.

Starting out as a street rider was scary, trying to navigate the streets while learning how to competently ride a motorcycle was a joke. Here I was trying to shift, brake, start from a stop (without looking like a tool and stalling), remembering to turn off my blinker after a turn, etc. all while dodging cars and white knuckling it through traffic. Thank goodness those days are long gone and my seat time has afforded me more attention to really enjoy my rides. That all did come at a price through and one that I would highly recommend for other street riders who want to use their attention on really enjoying the day, either by themselves jamming to their tunes in their helmets or in a group on an all day ride sharing the scenery and stories of corners mastered with big ole smiles on your faces. The only way you can really enjoy riding is like everything else, putting in the time (sorry no easy way out of this). But I’ll take it one step further, I believe that in educating yourself, through books (not all of them are worth reading) and taking classes (again not all of them are worth while) you can gain the knowledge required to really be able to ride confidently. Street riding is fun, sure it can be dangerous, but I think that is part of the reason we may be attracted to the sport, it keeps us alert and present. We must be aware of our surroundings every second, watching for distracted drivers, hazards on the road, weather, etc. it forces us to detach from the day (good and bad) and focus. I consider it therapeutic, it is my chance to forget about everything and just be, it is very zen-like in that way.

Riding on the track is very different and depending on whether you decide to start on a track day or actually sign up for a track school, you will learn more than you ever imagined. It wasn’t until I took classes at a track school that I honestly learned that I wasn’t even riding to a fraction of what I am capable of because of fear and not having the knowledge necessary to make well informed decisions. Gaining knowledge lead to gaining the confidence I needed to improve and advance to the next step, it was exhilarating! The thing about riding on the track is that during the day you learn the track, the turns (the same ones every lap), where you should be focused for decreasing speed, turn points, rolling back on, body position, etc. You can try to perfect those turn points each lap, it is exactly the same turns every time, you can increase your speed as you realize you can do it without anything happening, heck we are all going the same direction and there is not one car in sight to distract us from the task at hand: Riding. Track riding is all about having a place to test your bike and your limits in a safe and controlled environment. It is also about restraint and not riding over your ability, pushing your limits is one thing, riding over your head is another. I recently read in “Motorcycle Trackday Handbook” by Kent Larson, Pat Hahn, Jason Bishop and Max McAllister about a t-shirt one of the authors had printed which read “Know Fear” on the front and “No amount of BRAVERY can substitute for SKILL and KNOWLEDGE” on the back, think about that when thinking about riding. Track days help us to have a place to ride and push those limits without the risks of doing so on the street, it also helps us to really learn how to corner well at speed, learn the limits of your bike, learn how far out of your comfort zone you are willing to go, take principles learned in class and implement them on the track and to help us tame that naughty speed demon beast. I admit to being guilty of that from time to time.

Don’t forget that the Ducati “Women’s Track Event” is coming up on June 10th and it would be a perfect opportunity for you to sign up (www.ducatibellevue.com) and see what track days are all about. Hope to see you guys out there, 2Fast is a great track school and I know you will walk away amped up and ready to go to another one as soon as possible. Be safe out there Vixens and just ride!

R6 Spring and Preload Adjustment

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motorcycle-dynotuning

When I decided to start out as a novice racer, it was merely an idea, a dream, a desire. However, as things progress, the actual work of getting the bike race ready has basically slapped that foggy dream-like state into full reality. The thought of possibly having a track bike that was almost ready seems like it would have been a better idea, taking a street bike and trying to get it race ready is a major project, but it is a labor of love. In each and every step, I have learned more about my bike, not just why these modifications are being done, but how it will help and improve my confidence on the bike which will in turn be translated on the track. As promised, with each and every improvement I am and will be doing on my bike, I will share these with you. For some, this may discourage you to try, for others it might even peak your interest and I may see you trying next year! I just hope that in doing it will ignite or inspire you in some way or another to not only dream, but make that dream a reality. That it doesn’t matter what your gender or age, if you have a passion to do something, it is entirely possible you just need to follow your heart.

This video is with Brian Trudeau of FS2 (Fluid Suspension Science), it was to have my spring replaced with one rated for my body weight. The spring I had on my bike was rated for someone heavier than me which made my ride a lot stiffer (it just didn’t give). This would have translated on the track with my rear tire not having the ability to “bite” the track and could have lead to a crash. I hope you find this video informative and educational, I am looking forward to showing you the transformation of my R6 from a streetbike to a full on race bike!

Kudos to us Vixens

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Vixens, as riders we tend to start out at a disadvantage, but being female riders I think shows we have “balls” and we definitely do get major credit for that. I believe it takes a certain type of woman to ride, she has to be confident, outgoing and let’s face it the majority of us have quite the personality to boot. Come on, think about it…getting off your bike with helmet in hand, you can start conversations with anyone and they have a huge amount of respect for you, women because they see how strong and independent you are (yes they want to be you) and men because they think it’s sexy (yeah, they can’t help that, it’s the way they are wired). I only state we are at a disadvantage mostly due to the machines we ride, they were developed without us in mind and I mean this in every way. It limits what kind of bikes some of choose to ride because as beginners it is intimidating to climb onto a machine which may weigh up to 300+ pounds more than us, the seat height is too high and we are unable to touch the ground or feel secure in touching it even 3/4 of the way, the handlebars are too far away, the suspension is too stiff for our body weight, etc. The truth is that many of us don’t want a bike we can’t flat foot at a stop and that ends up limiting what types of bikes we choose to ride as our starter bikes. Don’t get me wrong, starting out with a bike you are completely comfortable with to learn the in’s and out’s of motorcycling is incredibly important, but I find that the fear ends up dictating our choices and before we know it we have outgrown the bike we started with and aren’t fully enjoying the ride.

I will make myself an example in this, I bought a Ducati Monster 696 ABS as a starter bike. I wish I would’ve just bought the 796 (the seat height was also a determining factor, it was slightly higher) instead, but because I was being told that the 696 was more power than I would need, I chose my current bike. In the line of Ducati’s it was the one where I could get the most leverage for my feet to touch, but no one mentioned to me that it could be lowered by shaving the seat down, adjusting the suspension, etc. The truth is that dealerships are meant to sell you a bike, they aren’t there to help you enjoy it or get the most out of it, they are there to turn a profit. It is solely up to us to help educate each other and give each other advice that otherwise could not be learned through them. The first week out while on my tiptoes at a stop, I dropped the bike, it was so embarrassing and it really pissed me off. I went back to the dealership and discussed my issue, but the fact that they were guys, they had little (useful) advice to offer or maybe coming from a guy I just tuned them out. At the time, there was a gal named Rachel, that worked once a week at the dealership and she was way shorter than me and also rode. I asked her the same questions I had asked the guys and she was a plethora of information, the first was to have my seat shaved to gain leverage, lowering the bike using lowering links (which I still have a hard time getting behind unless you are only using the bike for pleasure riding and not leaning your bike in any way), suspension (which is still my go to) and just plain old seat time. I shaved the seat and got my suspension done and guess what? I could’ve gotten that 796 I wanted had someone just been a resource for me and told me what I needed to do to get my bike to fit me. Leverage is a huge factor for a beginner, but as you progress and get more seat time, experience and confidence, fully touching the ground doesn’t become a factor (while it is nice) and you can manage with one foot touching. Don’t be afraid to ask other women riders for advice, especially ones who fit your body type, they understand your struggles and will jump right on board to help you get more out of your ride. Sad to say, but we are the minority when it comes to riding so manufacturers concentrate of the major population of riders which happen to be men, so it is that much more imperative that we band together and show the industry that we do matter. I would love to see the day when a woman can walk into a dealership and be greeted by a knowledgable saleswoman, dealerships that offer free setup for women riders, offer workshops on how to maintain your bike, offer discounts to various businesses that can help us customize our bikes to fit, etc…Yeah it’s a pipe dream, but it isn’t impossible. Until that day arrives though, it is up to all of us to help educate and give each other advice on how to absolutely love our rides.

Tell other women riders about us and have them register on the website and like us on Facebook, we are here to help and make this the best online resource there is. If we can improve in any way let us know. We want to provide you with interesting information for riding and for women’s issues as the two go hand in hand. If there is an event you want posted, an issue you want discussed, etc. let us know via email and we will do it. MotoVixens is a community of women riders that are passionate about riding and their health, as riders we must maintain a certain energy level to focus and ride and it is all about being healthy and fit. Here’s to looking at all us fabulous Vixens! Now go out and Ride C.H.I.C!

Lung Cancer – What you should know

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I was recently reading an article in a magazine that spoke about people that either never smoked or were considered “never smokers” which meant that they had taken a drag on fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lives and their diagnosis of lung cancer, even though they were healthy adults that exercised regularly and ate right.  Of course this caught my eye, since I lost my mother to lung cancer when she was just 47 years of age and never smoked a day in her life.  Sure she was the victim of secondhand smoke, but really who hasn’t been?  It turns out that 1 in 5 women who contract lung cancer are what they consider never smokers and 60% of never smokers with lung cancer are women (researchers think that hormones may play a role in this).  That is staggering especially when you stop to think that they never smoked.  In fact doctors haven’t a clue why nonsmokers get lung cancer, but secondhand smoke, exposure to radon (a radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water then seeps into homes through cracks in the foundation) and pollution continue to be the main culprits.

Diagnosing lung cancer is tricky since you can’t feel a tumor growing in them until it is large enough to cause discomfort and you start to feel chest pain, a cough that won’t go away, coughing up blood, wheezing or even hoarseness.  Unfortunately, these symptoms are similar to signs of bronchitis and pneumonia and doctors are more prone to diagnose you for infections like these than to order more tests when you fill out your questionnaire about your health and state you are not a smoker.  That is why it is imperative for you to be proactive about your body and your health, ask lots of questions, if there is a history in your family of cancer (of any type) speak to your doctor about your concerns.  Your sensitivity to harmful particles in the air may be hereditary.  When you breathe in carcinogens they are absorbed into the bloodstream and it’s your liver that is in charge of clearing them out, but if your liver is slow it allows those carcinogens to linger in the bloodstream and do their damage.  If you have an overactive liver, they break down non harmful molecules and turn them into carcinogens, which are sent back into the blood to circulate throughout your body, then if your lung cells absorb them then that is where the cancer will grow.  In a study of more than 100,000 women it was found that the more children a women (never smoker) had the less likely she was to get lung cancer.  It is believed that pregnancy may change a woman’s lung cells making them resistant to cancer.

While there is still so much more research to be done to understand lung cancer and what causes it, there are some things that you can do to protect yourself from lung cancer.  There is no diet or magic pill to prevent lung cancer, but researchers know that certain foods and eating strategies can help to lower your risk, no surprise it seems to be the same for maintaining a healthy lifestyle in general.  Vegetables over vitamins, crucifierous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, kale & cabbage) contain glucosinolates, a type of chemical compound believed to reduce the risk of lung and other cancers.  Even though glucosinolates are available in supplements, the body doesn’t absorb the crucial cancer-fighting compound in pill form as well as it does from food sources.  Get more soy in your diet, the isoflavones (a compound in soy), have been found to slow lung cancer cell growth.  Scientists discovered that people with the most soy in their diet had a 23% lower risk for lung cancer than those with the least.  Drinking tea, in the study those who drank black tea helped to protect nonsmoking women from lung cancer.   Smokers and nonsmokers who drank at least one cup of green tea a day were 5x’s less likely to get the disease than those who didn’t drink any.  Go easy on alcohol, having 3 or more drinks a day increased the risk of lung cancer by 30%.

At the time my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer, there was little hope and understanding of the disease (because she had never smoked).  It is nice to know that there is finally research being done and that doctors are aware that the majority of women affected are healthy young women with no history of smoking.  There has also been recent advances in lung cancer medications and therapies which yield better results that the traditional chemotherapy of the past.  There are also several blood and breath tests being developed for early detection and hopefully in the next 5 years there will be one that works to pinpoint the disease accurately.  Also if you are concerned about Radon, you can buy a DIY kit at your local hardware store (or for $15 to $25 at sosradon.org).  If readings are at four picocuries per liter or higher, the EPA recommends that you install a radon reduction system, usually a pipe and fan that vents the vapors to the outside.  Find a certified radon contractor in your area at neha-nrpp.org or nrsb.org.  Don’t forget to alert your doctor who can assess your lung cancer risk.

I hope that this blog has been informative and helpful to you.  If there is something you would like to discuss or would like me to research, please let me know and I would be happy to do so.  In the meantime, be healthy and ride, Vixens!

 

 

Throttle Control – Suspension & Traction

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I know, I know, another blog on throttle control, but I hope in doing this I can stress how important it is in our riding.  How it can make a ride enjoyable or really crappy really fast.  We have more control than we know when we ride, in fact, we have all the control of the outcome of each and every ride.  So let’s talk more technical about how suspension and traction play a role in the big picture.  Throttle control can affect the suspension and traction on the bike in a positive or negative way depending on how you brake and roll on the throttle.  If you break up acceleration into thirds, where cracking it on is the first third, acceleration(midway) being the second third to full acceleration to the last third, stability and traction are best in the middle third.  Say you hit the throttle hard to start, your front end gets light and tends to shake, but as it settles you feel the traction kick in and stabilize the bike allowing you to apply more throttle for more acceleration.  Throttle control affects suspension through weight transfer, too much at one time loads the back end of the bike (stiffening the rear suspension) and as a result reduces traction.  The ideal weight transfer is 10-20 percent to the rear tire which allows the suspension to work in an optimal range (and traction too) especially when cornering and that 10-20 percent can literally only be millimeters of movement in your wrist.  Cornering is especially tricky when it comes to this (and while there are other principles that apply to this including turn points, body positioning and lean which we will discuss in another blog), the earlier the throttle is applied and rolled on the less forced acceleration you will need to complete the turn and the more responsive the rear suspension will be.  According to Keith Code’s “Twist of the Wrist II” the standard rule of throttle control is:  “Once the throttle is cracked on, it is rolled on smoothly, evenly and constantly throughout the remainder of the turn.”  Yeah, easier said than done when you have a moment of panic that causes you to make a decision under duress.  The trick is to stay calm.

Rolling on smoothly like “Barry White” from my other blog has major advantages, like a rear end slide, you can avoid sliding more or a highside if you just stop rolling on and keeping it constant to allow your bike to slow briefly as it tries to align itself.  Remember your bike wants to be stable and will make every effort to get there, unless of course you disturb it in the process.  If the back end is coming around and you let your throttle go, cutting off power, the weight transfers off the rear wheel which can cause it to slide more or even overload the front tire causing it to slide.  Cutting off power by letting go of your throttle causes rear and front suspension to compress and you lose cornering ground clearance.  If you panic during your lean and cut your throttle you could potentially be lifting either one or both of your wheels off the pavement, now that’s an Oh Shit moment!  As you can see, throttle control is more than just acceleration and deceleration, there is an art to it and understanding how it applies to every aspect of riding.  I hope this little blog about how it affects suspension and traction helps to make your ride more enjoyable and through constant practice, second nature.  This doesn’t apply to street and/or track riding only, it applies to all types of riding.  Ride C.H.I.C. (Confident, Hard and In Control) Vixens!  Don’t forget to sign up for the Ducati “Women’s Event” in June where we will put these principles to the test with 2Fast and WMST.

 

 

 

 

Throttle Control

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A lot can be said about throttle control and how crucial it is in riding and cornering.  As riders we have the ability to make it easier, harder, smoother or scarier based on how we control our throttle.  I learned from an instructor in an MSF class that you should treat your throttle like “Barry White” (SMOOTH) and you won’t be surprised by a choppy and unpredictable ride.  This also rolls into rider input, the fact that if we do not relax our hands and arms, it can lead to disastrous results.  Today’s machines are so perfectly balanced that if you let go and just rode, the bike would right itself, we are the cause that things go wrong when we ride.  Try it and see, don’t death grip your bike, gently roll on and off (the bike immediately responds), push on the bars (gently) and see how easily it turns?  You have so much more control and it required way less effort.  The trick is being confident in your abilities and to relax, but to relax we need to have confidence in our abilities, yeah it is always a catch 22 isn’t it?

When coming off a stop I personally like to be in that friction zone, that place where you can pull in the clutch a bit to roll back and if you twist on a bit of throttle you will roll forward, either way it keeps you from stalling your engine.  This is so important when you are stopped on an incline, so mastering that technique is important.  Then there is the turning the key hand position so as not to fatigue your hand.  If you hold your hand as if you are turning a key in a door your hand doesn’t get tired and cause you to reposition it often and have an unpredictable position on your control that requires adjusting often.  Your hands should have a firm, but gentle grip on the throttle (relaxed) and it should be easy to engage and release the throttle with little to no effort.  This will allow you to ride for lengthy periods of time without your hands going numb or tired, it is all about a light touch.

Cornering is where throttle control can cause you to either panic and have that “Oh Shit” moment or that feeling of absolute exhilaration as you hit that throttle and nail that corner.  Cornering is something we all want to be confident in and be able to take confidently at speed, but many of us can be intimidated by it.  Just seeing that turn up ahead can cause us to tense up and then give the bike way too much input.  Just relax and loosen your grip on the bike and know that you can do this, practice, practice, practice.  Taking a class with a racetrack school where everyone is learning how to corner and corner well is a safe place to learn how to corner precisely and gain that confidence you will need for the street.

I distinctly remember an “aha” moment at a school I was attending where the individual who was reviewing my video of my laps asked why I wasn’t cracking on my throttle earlier?  I remember thinking, “I don’t know, I think I may run wide?”  He was quick to say that I would run wide only if I didn’t crack my throttle on early enough.  He made it very basic for me, he said upon entering a turn you brake, that breaking creates instability for your bike which you need to get it into position to turn. Once you have gotten into the lean position (which should have started before you entered the turn) and are in the trajectory you intend to go, you hit the throttle to stabilize your bike to complete that turn.  In every corner crack on the throttle as soon as possible (not too early though as it will cause you to run wide) and keep a light acceleration through the middle of the turn with the most aggressive turn on at the end to exit.  It was at that moment, I realized that my own fear was keeping me from initiating and completing that turn smoothly and precisely.  It was all about throttle control, when and where to apply it and how much.  Once you get throttle control mastered or at least partially mastered, you can ride knowing that you have the skills necessary to take on any situation and that is powerful.

Throttle control is the key to enjoying your ride, so master it and you will find out how much more enjoyable your riding experience will be.  For some reading during the off season, try Twist of the Wrist and Twist of the Wrist II from Keith Code or get the DVD’s and brush up on your techniques before the season starts again.  Please check out the forums under riding techniques where I will be posting some subjects to discuss.

Healthy and Happier You

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Ever hear “listen to your gut”?  Well, maybe we should listen to it more since there is scientific proof that your gut is directly connected to your health.  The stomach is a complex organ that houses an independent network of hundred of millions of neurons (more than the spinal cord).  It is so complex and important to our bodies that it is sometimes referred to as “the second brain.”  It is not only in charge of the digestive process, but your gut’s lining is the core of your body’s immune system and defends you from viruses and bacteria.  The cells within the gut lining also produce 95% of the serotonin in our bodies (with functions ranging from stimulating nerve-cell growth and sending messages to our immune system of invading germs) and the rest of it occurs in the brain where it regulates your mood.  Serotonin connects the gut and the brain constantly sending messages back and forth.  When we are stressed, scared or nervous, our brain sends a message to our gut and our stomach gets upset as a response so it is safe to say that if our digestive tract is off, our brain (which affects our mood) gets that message from our gut and our mental state for that day can be greatly altered.  Essentially a healthy gut means a happier you…

In a healthy gut good bacteria should outnumber bad, but what’s going on in that head of yours can greatly affect the balance.  Emotional issues influence what lives in your GI tract and being under stress, depression and anxiety could change the way your bowel contract and how your immune system functions, then changing the type of bacteria in the small intestine and colon.  For example, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is a disorder that causes abdominal pain (and other symptoms we all know but I won’t list) are accompanied by gas & bloating (so lovely) and sometimes by anxiety and depression (good Lord, it’s a trifecta) and all of this can be related to an overabundance of bad bacteria in the small intestine.  And if women aren’t already blessed with enough, we seem to be more susceptible to this.  What is know is stress is a factor, so stress less ladies!

The use of antibiotics and our affinity for junk food contributes to the imbalance in our guts and there is a link between the bacteria in our gut and the rise of food allergies and autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s and rheumatoid arthritis.  Increasing the number of good bacteria in our GI tract by taking probiotic supplements and eating foods that contain probiotics can help combat these health issues according to scientists.  There is new research that these good bacteria could alleviate mood and anxiety disorders as well.

So the solution is to eat more fruit and veggies and cut back on processed foods, animal protein and simple sugars (what we hear over and over again) which feed harmful bacteria and allow them to thrive in numbers.  Choose foods that have probiotics (milk, sauerkraut and yogurt), prebiotics (bananas, whole grains and veggies like onions & tomatoes) which feed the good bacteria in our bodies.  If you choose a probiotic supplement look for formulations containing Bifidobacterium or strains of Lactobacills with a dose of 1 billion to 10 billion colony forming units.  Avoid unnecessary medications like laxatives and NSAIDs (i.e. aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) as well as antibiotics which wipe out both good and bad bacteria.  If you take antibiotics, take probiotics for twice as long as the antibiotic prescription to prevent nausea, diarrhea and stomach cramping that they can cause.  Cut back on alcohol because research has shown that as little as one drink a day can increase your risk of an overgrowth of bad bacteria in your small intestine and cause GI distress.  But sometimes a girl needs to just have a drink to de-stress, it is all about moderation ladies!  And lastly exercise, it is mainly for stress management and a 30 minute daily sweat session helps your gut keep things moving.  Squeeze in a walk, jog or even some yoga and take a few minutes each day to just relax.  It is not only good for your mental health, but it is also good for your gut and we all now know that what happens in your gut can affect your whole body and your state of mind.  Here’s to a happier and healthier 2013!

New York IMS Show

By

With John Ryan in Greenwich Village

With John Ryan in Greenwich Village

 

What an exhausting and exciting show New York was to be a part of! I had heard that New York would be busy, but I had absolutely no idea that it would be so crowded that you couldn’t walk up work your way up an aisle without having to shove your way through. It had been about 20 years since my last trip there and the energy of the city keeps you going even though your body is screaming at you to stop. I met so many new people there and caught up with people I hadn’t seen for a while, this community (once joined) is so like family, I just love that.  Meeting East Coast gals are awesome, no nonsense and very nice (unlike what you’ve heard), we spoke about MotoVixens and growing it nationwide as an online resource for all women riders.  Not just with articles/blogs, but with a forum to communicate and to also have a classified section to allow riders to sell their motorcycles, gears and parts as well.  If you haven’t checked it out, the forum and the classified sections were put into place just before the New York IMS Show.

With Trevor from CA Superbike School on last day of show

With Trevor from CA Superbike School on last day of show

The individuals I met were so diverse, authors, consultants, artists, photojournalists, instructors, doctors, lawyers and an opera singer (yeah, that one surprised me too, she was a young blonde, totally threw me for a loop) and too many more to even name.  What was so amazing is we share this common passion for our sport, we all love riding and that one common interest bonds us and makes us family in many aspects (how many drivers do you know would stop and help a fellow driver on the side of the road?).  Knowing what we know about IMS shows, when potential customers see ladies working booths they think you are there to just sell and don’t ride (many don’t).  It is so funny to watch how people treat you upon meeting you and assuming you don’t ride to talking to you and finding out you do, their expression and enthusiasm changes as they tell you about their bike(s).  We know talking to someone who doesn’t ride is a bit like banging your head against a wall, you must be a rider to understand why we love the sport so much.

I worked with Rick Mayer of Rick Mayer Cycle and for you unfamiliar with him you should really check his website out www.RickMayerCycle.com, he makes custom seats for every bike.  In fact I am considering riding down there to have one of my seats customized this spring/summer, just need to find something big enough to carry all my stuff I need (a girl still needs to look good off the bike).  I had the privilege to meet John Ryan, a long distance rider who loves to break records, he went from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Key West, Florida (5,645 miles) in 86 hours and 31 minutes, beating the record by 9.5 hours.  He is part of the Iron Butt Association, an organization which breeds members with incredible discipline, mental and physical endurance and challenges you to test your limits.  I also met Melissa Pierson, the author of the book The Man Who Would Stop at Nothing: Long-Distance Motorcycling’s Endless Road, which is about John and this incredible journey.  What is remarkable is that John is a type 1 diabetic and has to check his blood sugars regularly, imagine doing that and riding these types of distances.  What it comes down to is determination and passion…I suppose that is why I love being a part of this slightly dysfunctional family, we may be quirky, but we all love the same thing.

It is winter, but I hope to see some of you out there, I’ve been doing it even in the freezing fog (not a shining moment as I questioned my sanity).  So stay warm Vixens and just ride!